Box-staying machine.



W. F. WELTER. BOX STAYING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 191s.

. 1,092,614. l Patented Apr. 7, 1914M 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. F. WELTBR.

Box STAYING lsznwHINL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1913;

Patented Apr.v 7, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ps1/ii e f =i llilu W. 1?. WBLTER.

BOX STAYING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED Muze, 1913A l .1,092,61 4. Patented Apr. '7, 1914L 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. P. WELTBR. BOX STAYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED Muze, 1913.

1,092,614. Patented Apr. 7, 1914 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

CIL/GM.

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nox-srariivs MACHINE.

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Speccaton of Letters latent.

Patented Apr; "Z, 1914.

Application led May 26, 1913. Serial No. 769,813.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, l/ViLLiAM F. VVELTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Staying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The general object of the invention is to provide more safe and more eliicient construction, arrangement and operation.

More in detail, the important objects of the invention are to provide improved stay applying mechanism which will wipe over the stays to smooth them out and to effect intimate, uniform and secure application theieof to the box material; to provide iinproved means for turning into the interior of the corner about the box edge the inner end of a stay and to effect raising of the box edge above the crest of the plunger which engages and turns in such inner end; to provide improved knife mechanism for cutting an endless stay band into stay lengths; to provide improved means for treating the tape to become adhesive and to effect such treatment after the tape leaves the feed mechanism; and to provide for the automatic and properly timed operation of all the various parts.

ln the accompanying drawings which illustrate the various features of construction and operation of the machine, Figure 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction and operation; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view with parts removed and broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on plane Fig. 1; Fig. l is a plan view taken on" plane 4%, Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on plane 5-5, Fig. 4i; Fig. G is a. sectional view taken on plane 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the lower part of the machine showing the sta-y applying jaws in open position; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the jaw members; Fig. 9 is a rear view of the knife supporting attachment and the gum moistening mechanism;`

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on plane 10-10, Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the box supporting anvil block; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a plunger slidable within the anvil for turning under stays, together with a box raising attachment; Fig. 13 is a view of the anvil structure end showing the parts in position lj ust after turning down of the inner end of a stay; Fig. 14 is anenlarged front elevational view of the knife supporting attachment with parts broken away to more clearly show the arrangement of the gum inoistening mechanism; and Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view taken on plane 15-15, Fig. let.

The supporting structure for the various machine parts comprises a base 21 and front and reai standards 22 and 23 together with a bridge piece 24C. A driving shaft 25 is journaled in the standards at the tops thereof and at its front end carries a crank disk 26 having a crank pin 27, the standard 22 having the chamber 28 for receiving the disk and other parts to be operated thereby. Reciprocable vertically in the chamber 28 is a cross-head 29 having the pin 30 which pin and the crank pin 27 receive the respective ends of connecting rod 31. Below the crosshead are the stay applying jaws or blocks 32, 32 hinged together at their upper edge on pin 33, the jaws being suspended from the cross head by means of a rod 34 pivoted to the pin 33 at its lower end, the upper end of the rod extending into spring pocket 35 in the cross-head, the compression spring 36 being interposed between the base of the pocket and the head 34 on the rod. rlfhe plates have at their upper edges the lateral extensions 37 and 37 whose upper surfaces are arcuate as indicated and are engaged by pins 38, 38 extending downwardly from pockets in the cross-head and pressed downwardly by springs 39 and 39. The spring 36 tends to hold the pivot pin 33 of the jaws up and the spring pressed pins 38 and 38 tend to swing the extensions 37 and 37 downwardly, the net result being a yielding closure of the jaws or plates 32, 32. The lower ends of the plates are rounded, and as will be described later, these plates coperate with the conical sides of an anvil and are j forced apart against the force of the springs referred to. The front of the chamber 28 is closed by a cover t() having a recess 40 in its lower end for receiving the front ends of LJI length then fed over the box corner whereupon the cross-head is depressed and the plates 32 and 32 brought into engagement at their lower ends with the box corner, the platesl being spread and their ends drawn 'downwardly over the stay so that the stay is securely ironed about the box corner. In order that the anvil may be adjusted for boxes of varying depth it is slidable in its supports and in order that adjustment can be readily effected its lower edge is provided with ratchet teeth 43 engaged by pinion 44 on shaft 45 whose end has the knurled head 46.

It is customary, to securely reinforce the edges of the corners of boxes, to apply a stay along substantially full length of the outer side of the corner and to turn in and secure the inner end of the stay to the inner side of the corner a short distance from the box edge. In order that this may be accomplished the anvil frame is made hollow and a plunger provided therein for first coperating with the end of a stay section to turn this end in and under and then to press the in-turned end into the corner, the stay being of course previously gummed, or a gummed stay suitably moistened before its application to a box. As indicated, the upper half of the anvil frame is out out and provided with slide-ways 47, 47 for the plunger 48 of triangular cross-section, the front end of this plunger when at the front end of the anvil frame providing the box receiving edge.

A cam lever 49 is pivoted at its upper end to the bridge piece 24 and at its lower end has the slot 50 receiving the pin 5l extending laterally from the plunger, the upper sides of the anvil frame being cut away as indicated in Fig. 1l to accommodate the pin. At an intermediate point the lever pivots a cam roller 52 which coperates with the cam ridge 53 on the disk 54 secured to the shaft 25. The shaft 25 supports another cam disk 55 having a cam ridge 5G which is engaged by a cam roller 57 on the cam lever 58 pivoted at its upper end to the bridge piece 24. To hold the cam rollers against their respective cam faces a compression spring 59 is provided, this spring encircling a rod 60 pivoted to the lever 58 and sliding Vthrough the block 6l swiveled on the lever 49. With this construction as the shaft 25 rotates the levers 49 and 58 will be periodically swung forward and back, the lever 49 effecting reciprocation of the plunger within the anvil frame and the lever 58 effecting reciprocation of the stay feeding mechanism. This stay feeding mechanism is clearlyshown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Supported on the top of bracket 41 and on the top of the base of the standard 22 is a plate 62. Along the rear edge of the plate 62 is the downwardly extending flange 63 y the having the raised ends 63ar and 63h. Over this flange 68 is mounted a rail 64 having extending ends 64a and 64b engaging the ends 63L and 63h. The flange' 63 andrail 64 are supported by their extended ,ends to leave the slot 65 for receiving the slide block G6 whose front and rear walls 66a and 66? engage against theA front and rear faces of flange and rail, as clearly shown in Fig. `6. An L-shaped jaw plate 67 is secured by its vertical wall to the front wall 66a of the slide block and its horizontal face is parallel with the table 62 and has the right-angle ridge 68 therein parallel with the slide block. A bell crank jaw member 69 is pivoted at its elbow on'a pin 70 extending from the slide block, the upper endV of the lever being connected by a link 7l with the lower end of the cam lever 58. The edge of the lower end 69 of the bell crank lever 69 is flat and serrated and cooperates with the crest of ridge 68 to clamp the stay band. The stay material is usually in the form of tape and is drawn from a reel 72 mounted on the arm 73, the tape passing through forming mechanism comprising a preliminary former 74 in which the paper is partly bent longitudinally, and forming rolls 75 by which it is bent to final angular form. The paper is then fed between the feeding jaw 67 and the lower end 69 of the bell crank jaw member 69. The clockwise swing of the jaw lever 69 is limited by the pin 76 extending from the slide block. When the lever 58 is swung forwardly the jaw lever 69 is first rotated to clamp the stay band between its lower end and the jaw vplate 67 whereafter the jaw members move bodily with the sli-le block to draw the stay band forwardly to feed the front end thereof over the front end of the anvil frame. lVhen the cam lever 58 swings rearo wardly it will first swing the jaw lever 69 to release the stay band whereafter the jaw frames will move bodily rearwardly with the slide blockinto position to take a fresh Y hold of the stay band. In order to compensate for wear on the guide rolls 63 and 64 for the slide block 66, the extended ands of the rails do'not touch but the rails are held together to yieldingly clamp the slide block by springs 77 interposed between the ends of rails 64 and the heads of screws 68'y extending from the rail flange 63. Any wear on the slide block and rails is compensated for and the slide block will always run true to effect proper and efficient operation of the feeding jaws.

Improved knife mechanism is provided for cutting off lengths of stay tape and this knife mechanism is timed to operate after the feed mechanism has advanced the front end of the tape intoposition above the corner of a box applied to the anvil frame. The length out from the band is sufficient to cover full length the outside of the box corner with sufficient end to be turned in and about the box edge to be glued against the inner side of the corner. As before stated, the anvil is adjustable in order that varying lengths thereof may be projected to accommodate boxes of varying depth. Adjustment should therefore be provided for the feed mechanism for feeding varying lengths of bands depending upon the-size of the box. Such adjustment ofthe feed mechanism is preferably accomplished automatically. As shown, a lever 78 is pivoted at an intermediate point to the bracket 7 9 secured to the rear end of standard 23 and its lower end has the pin 80 engaging in the vertical slot 8l in the rear bracket 82 extending from the rear end of the anvil frame. The upper end of the lever 78 carries an adjustable abutment screw 82 whose head extends into the path of swing of the cam lever 58. Thus' as the anvil frame is adjustable longitudinally -by the turning of the head 46 on shaft 45, the lrearward swing of the cam lever 58 is limited accordingly. If the anvil frame is adjusted outwardly to accommodate a deeperbox, the lever 78 is swung to carry the abutment screw rearwardly to allow greater rearward swing of the cam lever, and when the anvil frame is adjusted outwardly its full dist-ance the cam roller 57 is allowed to engage with the bottom of the cam ridge 56.` For any other adjustments, however, the lever 58 is stopped by the abutment screw 82 before the cam roller reaches the lower part of the cam ridge. The rear ward movement of the tape feeder mechanism slide block 66 is thus automatically limited upon adjustment of the anvil frame, but this slide block always moves forwardly to the same point, controlled by the engagement of the high point of the cam ridge 56 with the cam roller 57. The proper amount of stay tape is thus fed for any setting of the anvil frame.

In operation a box is applied with a corner over the front end of the anvil frame at a time when the plunger 48 is at the front end of its movement. The machine is then started and the cam 53 will effect rearward movement of the plunger, and cam 56 will then effect forward shifting of the feeder mechanism to advance the front end o f the stay tape over the corner of the box. After such feeding of the tape, the knife mechanism, which will be described in detail later, becomes effective to cut the tape a distance back of the inner edge of the box and will at the same time deflect the inner end of the cutwoff tape piece downwardly in front of the plunger. When the plunger now comes forward it engages the end of the downn wardly deflected end of the cut-away tape piece and bends this end forwardly and upwardly against the inner face of the corner.

The plunger which also carries one of the knife blades will now have carried the stay applying plates 82, 32 downwardly sufficiently to engage with and wipe over the stay, and the stay having been previously applied on its under side with glue material will firmly adhere to the outside of the box corner and the turned-in end will be wiped and secured against the inner face of the corner by the plunger. The parts are now again restored in normal position and another corner of the box is applied to the anvil frame for the application of a stay thereto. rf he adjustment of the anvil frame for different sized boxes is entirely independent of the operations of the plunger which is always carried the same distance by its cam mechanism and moved rearwardly into position behind the end of the stay and de fiected downwardly by the knife mechanism, to fold this end under and to press it against the inner side of the corner. Describing now the knife mechanism for cutting the stay band into proper stay lengths, an L-shaped bracket 83 is secured to the standard 22 by means of screws 84 engaging in the rear of the standard, the front wall 88 of this bracket extending vertically,

across the gap 85 formed in the standard for accommodating the plunger and feed mechanism, the lower end of the wall 83 having the slot or passageway tu through which the plunger 48 may pass, the upper walls y and e of the slot being parallel with the upper sides of the plunger but a distance above the plunger, and forming upper guide surfaces for the fed-in stay band. Detachab-ly secured by means of screws 86 to the front of the plate 83 and along the sides thereof are the guide rails 87 and 87 between whose inner sides and the plate the back knife blade 88 is removably held by means of pins 89 and 89 extending through the plate and part-way into the knife blade. The front ends of the guide rails are dovetailed to receive the front knife blade 90. This front knife blade is jointed at 91 to a plate 92 having at its upper end the vertical slot 98 receiving the rear end of the pin 33 on which stay applying plates 32 and 32 are hinged. The knife structure 90, 92 is held yieldingly downwardly by the compression fo-rce of a spring 94 encircling the stem 95 extending upwardly from the plate 92 and sliding through the pin 30 on cross-head 28 (Fig. l).

As clearly shown in Figs. l, 2, 4, 9 and 10 the rear knife blade 88 has the vertical section intermediate its sides cut away to leave only the angular bridge section 88', the conical edges e, e of which form the shearing edges which coperate with similar shearing edges f along the inner end of the conical slot 90 of the lower end of the front knife blade 90. The conical space below the cutstay section.

ting section 88 of the rear knife blade receives the folding plunger 48 andthe space above this cutting section registers withthe upper part of the slot ae cut in the supporting bracket 83 to leave an annular passageway through which the stay tape is fed into position between the shearing edges of the knife blades. As the upper knife blade descends after feeding of the tape the shearing edges will pass by each other and cut the tape, the lower end of the blade 90 then being limited against further downward movement by its abutment with surface s of the base of standard 22, the spring 94 then allowing further movement of the cross-head structure to carry the stay applying plates 32 and 32 into engagement with the cut-off In order that the shearing edges of the knife blades will always remain in intimate relationship, a fork frame 96 is pivoted on the rear of the bracket 83 with its fingers 97 97 engaging the pins 89,

89 respectively. A spring 98 interposed between the lug 99 on the fork frame and the abutment screw 100 in bracket 83 will tend to swing the fingers of the fork 'frame against the pins, thus to yieldingly urge the rear knife blade against the front knife blade to keep the shearing edges in cutting alinement.

The plunger arrangement thus far described for turning under the rear end of a severed stay section is substantially the same as in prior machines. However, the operation of such construction is not the most efficient. The end of a severed tape section which is to be turned under and into the box must be deflected downwardly in order to be engaged by the advancing plunger. VIn prior machines the downward movement of the front knife blade was depended upon to deflect the tape end downwardly after cutting of the tape, but the downward movement of this front knife after cutting is limited by the plunger. The result has been that sometimes the stay end was not engaged at all by the plunger or would be crumpled up by the plunger, this being especially the case on small boxes of thin material and also where thin stay material is used. Again, in these old machines where the inner side of the box corner is substantially coincident with the line of travel of the crest of the plunger, the plunger together with the box edge would cause shearing and destruction of the stay end. An important feature of my machine is therefore construction and operation for obviating all this trouble and inefficient operation. In the lirst place l provide for greater deflection of the inner end of the stay and in the second place I effect raisingV of the box corner a distance above the crest of the plunger .so that shearing 0f the stay end by the plunger cannot take place. The mechanism for accomplishling these features is clearly shown in Figs.

1, 5., 11 and 12. Y Y

Referring particularly to Figs.'11 and 12, the anvil member has the central longitudinal groove 101 and the plunger has the longitudinal groove 102 in its lower face. In the groove 101 is set `a cam plate 103 having the up-turned rear end 104 through which pass the screw 105 which threads onto the bracket 41. This plate tits into the groove 102 in the plunger and assists in guiding the plunger in its forward and back movements. The front end of the plate 103 hasits upper edge beveled to form the cam incline 103. The plunger is hollow, and slidable therein is the stern 106 supporting at its .front end the box elevating plate 107. The conical the inner sides g and it' of the hollow anvil f (Figs. 11 and 12) but the plate is of slightly less width in order to havevertical clearance in the anvil so that itV may beelevate'd Vtherein allimited distance. The upper ends o and d of the sides ofthe elevating plate are parallel with the conical sides of the plunger and when the plate is in advance'of the cam plate 103 the-crest of the elevatingV plate will be level with that of the plunger. However, upon rearward movement of the plunger the elevating plate will Venga-gewith its base along the cam incline 103 and the plate will be raised. The width of the elevating plate -is such that after its base hasv traveled up the incline' 103'* a 'distance its edges c and d will engage theedges g and 7L of the anvil so Vthat the elevating plate will,

be locked against further inward movement and in position a short distance in front of the edge kof the corner of the box applied over the anvil. The inner edge of the box corner is thus elevated a distance over the `path of the crest of the plunger. The plunger, however, will, aftersuch elevation of the plate 107 continue its rearward movement until its front end is behind fthe shearing plane. of the knife mechanism, and to'allow such relative movement between the plate l107 and the plunger a spring 108 1s provided inthe plunger bore and abuts against the plunger and a nut 109 on the stem 106. Another spring 110 encireles the stem 106 in the plunger bore and abuts against the plunger walls and against the sleeve 111 which carries the elevating plate 107, this spring preventing injury in case the plate 107 `should strike anything upon outward move- Y ment of the plunger, the outward movement of the plunger being rather sudden as its controlling cam v52 leaves the high point of Vthe cam ridge 53. When the hollow anvil frame is adjusted inwardly `for Y smaller sized boxes, the plunger practically fills the Y front end of the frame and offers a substantial support for the box corner. When theV anvilframe is drawnoutA for the' accommodation of larger boxes, liller blocks lc are preferably inserted therein in front of the plunger to give adequate foundation for the stay applying plates 32 and 32.

As clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 11 an end plate 112 is hinged at 113 to the front end of the anvil frame to be locked into position by engagement of its slot 1141 with the pin 115 on the frame. When filler blocks are to be inserted the plate 112 is swung open and the blocks applied. As has been stated the plunger is thrown forward abruptly upon release of its cam controlling roller from its cani ridge, and in order to prevent the end plate 112 from receiving the blow of the plunger structure a stop lever 116 is pivoted in a groove 117 in the base of the anvil frame, the front end of this lever having the abutment projection 116l normally held up by means of a suitable spring in the groove 117 below the lever. This abutment extension will receive the plunger structure and protect the end plate 112. When filler blocks are inserted in the anvil frame the abutment projection is pressed down into the slot and when released will engage in front of the outer filler block to take up the blow of the plunger transmitted through the filler blocks.

The arrangement in my machine for causing the stay tape to become adhesive constitutes an important feature and an improvement over the arrangement in prior struc tures. In such prior structures gummed tape is directed to the reciprocating feed mechanism and before reaching such feed mechanism the gummed surface is mois tened so that the tape with its softened gum surface is required to pass through the feed mechanism. This has proven undesirable and ineflicient as the tape is apt to stick to the feed mechanism, particularly if the machine has been idle for even a short time. The surfaces of the feed jaws soon become clogged or smoothed by the hardened gum substance and the feed will no-t be accurate. The feature of my improved arrangement resides in Vrendering the tape adhesive in front of the feed mechanism particularly during its passage through the space between the knife mechanism and the feed mechanism. The mechanism for accomplishing this is best shown in Figs. 1, 9, 14; and 15.

Supported from the machine at any convenient point is a receptacle 118 from which leads a delivery pipe 119 controlled by valve 120. This pipe extends through the lower end of the plate 83 of bracket 83 and into the passageway a" through the conical upper part of which the stay tape passes on its way through the knife blades. Within this passageway is the angular nozzle 121 connected with the end of pipe 119 and from which the brush 122 extends and over which v brush the lower face of the tape passes. The tank 118 may contain adhesive fluid to be brushed onto the lower surface of the tape during its passage over the brush, or, the tape may have been previously gummed and the tank then contains some softening fluid to be applied to the tape during its passage over the brush. There adhesive fluid is fed from the tank it should be of proper consistency for rapid sticking and drying when thetape is applied to the box corner. Vhen previously gummed tape is used the fluid in the tank should -be of such nature to quickly soften the gum and to eect quick drying thereof after application of the tape to the box. l/Vith the above arrangement only dry tape passes through the feed mechanism and the outer end of the tape after being rendered adhesive is immediately applied to the box corner without coming in contact with any of the machine parts so that' accumulation of gum material and sticking or clogging of the machine parts will be prevented. In the old form of machines the mcistened gum surface of the tape slid over the shearing edge of the rear knife blade and adhesive material accumulated on this knife blade and seriously interfered with proper shearing operation. In my arrangement the tape in passing over the brush is held up over the knife edge and does not touch the same until the upper knife blade is carried down to shear the paper.

Briefly reviewing the operation of the machine, Fig. 5 shows the relative positions of the parts when a box is applied thereto for receiving a stay and when a box has received a stay. The plunger structure is out and the elevating plate 107 is between the plunger end and the filler block 7c, 4the filler blcck abutting at its front end against the abutment 116, the plunger end, filler block and elevating plate forming a foundation for the corner of a box. The box r is applied to the anvil as4 shown with its edge abutting against the base of standard 22 and the machine is then started. As the cam 54C rotates it will coperate with lever 49 to shift the plunger structure rearwardly and the elevating plate 107 travels rearwardly with this structure until its base engages the cam incline 103 when it will be raised and then locked with the engagement of its sides with the anvil frame. Such raising of the plate will effect elevation of the inner end of the box above the crest of the plunger. The plunger continues to move to its rearmost position to bring its front end behind the shearing plane. Shortly before the plunger reaches its rearmost position the cam 56 becomes effective to cause forward travel of the feed mechanism and the tape; previously bent to angular shape by the forming mechanism 74, 7 5, is fed over the brush 122 and through the cutting plane,

operation.

and into position over the box corner-. The cross-head 28 will by this time have carried the front knife blade 90 down far enough to effect shearing of the tape and downward deflection of the rear end t of the severed tape section into the path of the plunger. Fig. 1 shows the position of the parts after feeding of the tape end over the box and just before the knife is lowered while Fig. 13 shows the defiecting of the severed tape end by the front knife blade after the shearing After the front knife blade 90 is stopped against further downward movement by the surface s, the cross-head continues downwardly to carry the stay pressing plates 32 and 32 against the stay section on the box corner and the ends of the plates will engage with the stay section a lshort time before the plunger is released and returned to its front position. This is so that the stay is held in place on the outside of the box while the front end of the plunger engages the deflected end t and carries this end into the box and against the inner side of the corner. Then when the plunger is out and together with the plate 107 and filler block 7a again fills the anvil frame the plates 32 and 32 wipe over the inclined sides l of the plunger, elevating plate and fi'ller block and smooth out and press the stayl firmly against the outside Vof the corner The spring 36 pulling on the pivot pin of the plates 32 and 32 kand the `extensions 37 and 37 abutting against the spring-pressed pins 38 and 38', the lower ends of the plates 32 and 32 are yieldingly but firmly wiped over the stay both during the downward movement of the cross head and during its return movement. The elevating plate 107 does not leave the incline 103 and does not ldrop until just before the front end of the l plunger comes into line with the inner edge of the box corner, and the plunger `being ejected rapidly by force of the spring 59, the box will remain in elevated position while the plunger is folding in the rend t against the inner side of the corner. Of `course after the plunger has reached its 'outer position the box lcorner will be pressed iirmily against the plunger vand the plate 107 and the filler block by the stay 'applying plates 32 and 32, and the stay will be pressed and 'smoothed against the voutside of the corner and the inside thereof.

In prior machines a single reciprocating stay applying block is utilized 'having a V- shaped notch in its base for litting the box corners on the anvil. This construction is dangerous and undesirable as the op'erators iingers could accidentally be caught between the anvil and the block. tion this cannot happen as the stay applying plates spread and slide downwardly along the anvil so that if a finger should be on the .anvil below the plates it will be brushed oiT With my con'struc- Y vby the plates and will not be injured. Furthermore, the single block could not operate to stretch and smoothen the stay and if there were any wrinkles, these would merely be folded together when engaged by the block.

In my arrangement the securing plates slide over and stretch and iron out the stay at either side of the corner apex and all air will be expelled from underneath the stay and the stay will be intimately secured to the box material at all points. Y

The machine can readily be inspected at any time and adjustment and repairs made. By removing the front cover 40 the crosshead with the mechanism carried thereon can be readily withdrawn from the crank pin 27, the fro-nt knife structure readily dividing at the joint 91. If the knife mechanism is to be inspected or adjusted the screws 86 can be loosened and the guide rails 87 and 87 removed whereafter the front knife blade 90 can easily be detached from the upper 'blade 92 at the joint 91 and the rear knife blade withdrawn. Access can then readily be had to the brush 122 and its supporting nozzle 121. I thus provide a staying machine which is of much more efficient and desirable construction and operation than prior machines.

Ido not, of course, desire to be limited to the precise construction and. operation shown and described as changes and modifications are possible which would still come within the scope ofthe invention and I claim as follows: f

1. In a box staying machine, the combination of a hollow anvil frame, a plunger reciprocable in said frame and having a conical top forming a seat for the corners ofboxes, means for feeding a stay over the anvil, said plunger being adapted to `cooperate at its front end withthe inner end ofthe stay, and an 'elevating mechanism in front of the plunger adapted to raise the box corner above the crest of the plunger during cooperation of said plunger withthe stay. Y

2. In ka box staying machine,the combin'ation ef an anvil frame, a plunger reciprocable on said frame having a 'conical top for receiving the corners of boxes to be stayed, means for feeding a stay v'over the 'corner of a box on said frame, means `for reciprocating said plunger, said plunger 'being adaptedV supporting 'the corners of boxes, an elevat-Y iso ing member carried by said plunger, and cam mechanism for effecting raising of the elevating member during the rearward travel of the plunger whereby a supported box will be raised to hold its corner above the path of the crest of the plunger during its forward movement.

4. In a box staying machine, the combination of a support for boxes, stay applying mechanism for cooperating with the support t0 fasten a stay to the outside of the box, means for turning down and in the inner end of a stay against the inner side of the corner of a box, and means for effecting raising of the box during such application of the stay end.

5. In a box staying machine, the combination of a supporting anvil structure for boxes, means for feeding a stay over the corner of a box applied to the frame,means cooperating with the frame to secure the stay to the outer side of the box corner, means for turning against the inside of the corner the inner end of the stay, and means for effecting raising of the box during application of the inner end of the stay to the inner side thereof.

G. In a box staying machine, the combination of an anvil frame, a plunger reciprocable in said anvil frame, an elevating member carried by the plunger and normally of the same height as said plunger, and cam mechanism effective during reciprocation of the plunger to coperate with the plunger to effect raising thereof.

7. In a box staying machine, the combination of a support for boxes to be stayed, stay applying mechanism over said support, means for feeding stay material between said support and stay applying mechanism, a knife supporting structure, knife mechanism on said structure for cutting the stay material, and a fountain brush on said knife supporting structure in the path of said stay material.

8. In a box staying machine, the combination of a support for boxes to be stayed, stay applying mechanism over said support, means for feeding stay material between said support and said applying mechanism, a knife supporting structure, knife mechanism on said structure for cutting the stay material, and means on said knife supporting structure for causing said stay material to become adhesive.

9. In a box staying machine, the combination of a support for boxes to be stayed, stay applying mechanism over said support, means for feeding stay material between said support and said applying mechanism, a knife supporting structure, knife mechanism on said structure for cutting the stay material, and means onsaid knife supporting structure for causing said stay material to become adhesive prior to cutting thereof by the knife mechanism.

l0. In ay box staying machine, the combination of a support for boxes to be stayed, means for feeding stay material over said support, a supporting bracket at the rear end of said support, said bracket having a passageway for the staying material, knife mechanism operating on said bracket to cut the stay material, and means disposed in said bracket passageway and in the path 0f 7 5 the staying material for causing said staying material to become adhesive.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23d day of May, A. D., 1913.

WILLIAM F. IVELTER.

Witnesses C. J. SCHMIDT, E. G. INGnnsoLL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

